Push button switch



NOV. 12, GlBSON PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed'May 25, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor ALBERT GuBsoN,

A itomgys Nov. 12, 1940. AGIBSON 2 221.04

PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Filed May 25, 1959 2 SheetsSheet 2 A tiorneys Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE 1 Claim.

The present invention rel-ates to new and useful improvements in push button switches and has for its primary object to provide, in a man" her as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to control a large nunber of door bells or other electric signals, the invention being particularly useful in apartment and other buildings.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a multiple push button switch of the aforementioned character which may be expeditiously set or adjusted for ringing the desired bell.

Other objects of the invention are to provide 5 a push button switch of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact, attractive-in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a push button switch constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig, 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional View, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a detail View in perspective of the disk supporting bracket.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a circular plate I of suitable insulating material which is adapted to be mounted on a wall or other support. Mounted centrally in the plate I is what may be referred to as a main contact 2 for connection with a suitable source of electric current. Encircling the contact 2 in spaced, concentric relation thereto is an endless series of contacts 3 to be electrically connected with the so bells to be controlled by the switch.

Mounted on the marginal portion of the circular plate I is a metallic ring 4 having an annular flange 5 on its periphery engaged with the periphery of said plate I. The ring 4 and the plate I are apertured to accommodate securing screws 6 for mounting the assembly on a wall or other support. The ring 4 includes an offset inner marginal portion 1 having therein an opening or window 8 the purpose of which will be presently set forth. 0

Rotatably mounted on the plate I is an annular casing 9 of suitable metal comprising a substantially conical outer portion ID. The inner end of the casing 9 is provided with an external flange II which is engaged beneath the offset 10 portion I of the retaining ring 4, thus rotatably securing said casing in position. The flange I I is numbered, as at E2, said numbers I2 corresponding to the contacts 3 and being adapted to be brought into registry with the opening or 15 window 8.

The outer end of the casing 9 has formed therein an opening in which a push button I3 is slidably mounted. Extending inwardly from the push button I3 is a stem I4 having a con- 20 ductor arm I5 secured on its inner end portion by a nut I6. The inner end of the stem I4 is engageable with the center contact 2 and the outer end portion of the arm I 5 is engageable with any of the contacts 3. 25

Extending inwardly from the outer end of the casing 9 is a neck I! which encircles the push button I3 and which is provided, on its inner end, with an external flange IS. A flange I9 on the inner end of the push button I3 is engage- 30 able with the flange I8. Mounted on the neck I! is a resilient wire bracket 23 comprising substantially U-shaped clamping arms 20 having mounted therebetween a disk 2|. The bight portions of the substantially U-shaped arms 20 are 5 bent inwardly in a manner to provide retaining hooks 24 engaged beneath the disk 2I. The resilient bracket 23 further includes outwardly bowed connecting bars 25 adapted to receive therebetween and clamp the flanged neck I! 0 for firmly but removably securing said bracket thereon The stem I4 passes slidably through an opening provided therefor in the disk 2 I. The disk 2i constitutes a seat for a coil spring 22 which encircles the stem I4 and which is en- 45 gaged with the button I3 for yieldingly pushing said button outwardly.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The switch is normally 5 maintained in open position by the coil spring 22 which yieldingly holds the conductor arm l5 away from the contacts 2 and 3, as shown to ad vantage in Fig. 3 of the drawings. To operate the switch, the casing 9 is rotated to bring the 5 desired number I! into view in the opening 8 thereby positioning the arm l5 over the corresponding contact 3. The button I3 is then pushed inwardly against the tension of the coil spring 22 for bridging the contact 2 and the desired contact 3. Of course, when the button I3 is released the switch is immediately opened again by the spring 22. It will thus be seen that by simply rotating the casing 9 to the desired position any one of a number of door bells or other electric signals may be energized. If desired, the contacts 3 may be identified by numbers or letters, or both, on the plate I to facilitate installation, inspection, the making of repairs, etc.

It is believed that the many advantages of a push button switch constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A switch including a plate, a plurality of contacts mounted on said plate, a casing rotatably mounted on the plate and having an opening therein, a flanged neck on the casing extending inwardly from the opening, a resilient wire bracket removably mounted on the neck, said bracket comprising substantially U-shaped clamping arms, the bight portions of said substantially U-shaped arms being bent inwardly and constituting retaining hooks, said bracket further including outwardly bowed connecting bars engaged with the neck, a disk mounted between the arms of the bracket and engaged on the hooks, a button extending slidably through the opening and the neck, a stem fixed to said button and extending slidably through the disk, an arm mounted on said stem and engageable selectively with the contacts for electrically connecting said contacts, and a coil spring encircling the stem and having one end engaged with the disk and its other end engaged with the button for disengaging the arm from the contacts.

ALBERT GIBSON. 

